Vaping Myths Vs. Facts

There is a lot of information about vaping and it can be difficult to know what to believe. As vaping has grown tremendously in popularity in the U.S., so have the rumors surrounding vapes, their safety, and the people who use them. For people interested in either using these products, or to learn more about this popular habit, it’s important to screen out the facts from the myths.

Here are some common myths about vapes and key facts that many people don’t know.

Myth: Vaping is the same as cigarette smoking

Probably the most common myth related to vaping is that it is the same as smoking cigarettes. This is completely not true. The whole point of vapes is that they release water vapor, not smoke. Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling that vapor, which is produced by heating e-liquid, not the same type of toxic substances that are found in cigarettes.

Not only are e-juices tobacco free, many of them are also nicotine free. In fact, juices with low-to-no nicotine strength regularly outsell the types that contain medium-to-high strengths, and almost every vape juice manufacturer offers juices that contain no nicotine.

Myth: No one knows what is inside e-liquids

There are many rumors about what is inside vape juices. For example, some people claim that e-juices contain antifreeze. This is absolutely not true. So where did the rumor come from?

E-liquids contain propylene glycol, which is indeed an ingredient found in antifreeze, but it is added to make it safer to swallow. In fact, antifreeze that uses this ingredient is doing so to gain a “non-toxic” label. Propylene glycol is safe to inhale when it is vaporized, which is why it is also commonly found in asthma inhalers.

Another common myth about the ingredients in e-liquids is that “no one really knows what’s inside of them.” Ask any vape shop owner or employee and they will tell you they take great pride in knowing the ingredients in the juices they sell, to ensure their safety.

To allay any concerns about what’s in vape juice, ask a vape shop owner or contact an online retailer. They should be able to clearly explain what the ingredients inside vape juice are, and what purpose they serve.

Myth: Vapes are more addictive than traditional cigarettes

As mentioned in the first point, vaping is not the same as smoking regular cigarettes. Studies have shown that vapes are a far-less effective nicotine delivery method than traditional cigarettes, even when individuals choose a high-nicotine e-juice.

This leads to the second point – people can choose the amount of nicotine they want in their e-juice. This gives them the freedom to start off high and then slowly lower the amount in their juice, until they have weaned themselves off of the substance altogether and are simply enjoying flavored vapor.

This is not something traditional cigarettes can offer. Sure, the number of cigarettes smoked each day can be reduced, but those cigarettes still contain the same amount of nicotine.

Myth: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Does Not Regulate Vapes

Many claim that vapes are not safe because they are not regulated by the FDA. While this used to be true a few years ago, it is no longer the case. The FDA now regulates these products, and has been working for years to increase their level of regulation.

To quote directly from the FDA website “FDA now regulates the manufacture, import, packaging, labeling, advertising, promotion, sale, and distribution of [electronic nicotine delivery systems], including components and parts of ENDS but excluding accessories.” The site goes on to say that this includes e-liquids, cartridges, and even some batteries.

Myth: Vaping does not help people quit smoking

As vaping has become more common throughout the world, one clear thing has emerged: there is a a lot of potential for vapes as smoking-cessation tools. A paper published last year in the journal Addiction found that an estimated 6.1 million individuals in Europe quit smoking tobacco with the help of vapes.

Of the individuals surveyed for the study, 35 percent of those who were e-cigarette users said they they were former smokers who had now successfully quit. What’s more, there seemed to be a correlation between higher vape use and a greater chance of quitting cigarettes. Out of the respondents who said they vaped every day, 30.6 percent had quit smoking, compared to 8.9 percent of those who said they vaped once a week or less.

The study also managed to debunk another major myth – that vapes are the gateway to cigarettes. Instead, they found that most e-cig users were already cigarette smokers. This makes sense, considering the potential they have to help people wean themselves off cigarettes.

“E-cigarette use in the European Union appears to be largely confined to current or former smokers, while current use and nicotine use by people who have never smoked is rare. More than one-third of current e-cigarette users polled reported smoking cessation and reduction,” the researchers said in their conclusion.

Conclusion

The many myths surrounding vapes can easily cloud opinion of them. While there is a lot of negative information about e-cigarettes and other vaping devices, that doesn’t mean it’s all true.

In reality, the majority of research shows they are safer than traditional cigarettes and could even help smokers quit their dangerous habit. There is now plenty of research to discover the truth about vape products. Talk to local or online shop owners to learn more.